How to banish bikini bumps, sweaty underarms and other beauty embarrassments

Nobody's perfect. From red carpet falls, a la AnnaLynn McCord to sweaty grooming mishaps, a la Carmen Electra, even celebrities who spend thousands of dollars on stylists, makeup artists and handlers, can't escape the embarrassment of beauty gone bad. Thankfully, your grooming mishaps won't be splashed on the front page of Us Weekly and, with these solutions to your most embarrassing beauty questions, your worst grooming nightmares may be avoided all together.

Bad breath

Bad breath is embarrassing and eradicating it starts with understanding the root of the problem. Sulfur compounds cause bad breath, and no amount of brushing can change that. (Do keep brushing, but recognize that when it comes to sweetening your breath, brushing just masks odor temporarily.)

The same sulfur compounds that are found in garlic and onions — hence their bad breath-causing properties — are released when bacteria in your mouth loses oxygen. The good news is, the solution is healthy and free: drink more water. Increasing water consumption helps keep the mouth oxygenated, putting an end to bad breath. Snacking on celery, an oxygen-rich food, can also help alleviate bad breath.

Upper lip hair

Complete banishment of every last upper lip lock is key, and lucky for you, there's no shortage of options for hair removal. Waxing or threading should be done every three to four weeks by a professional and costs as little as $10. Laser hair removal is ideal for women whose upper lip hair is dark. Laser hair removal of the upper lip may cost as little as $150 for four to six sessions that offer semi-permanent reduction with annual maintenance. And, if a drugstore fix is more your speed, opt for an over-the-counter product such as Veet High Precision Facial Wax Hair Remover, $7.99 at local stores.

Sweaty underarms

Perspiration is perfectly normal, but if you suffer from excessive perspiration, called hyperhidrosis, there are both DIY and medical treatments that can help eradicate this embarrassing problem.

Botox curbs excessive sweating, and is approved by the FDA to treat severe underarm sweating. The price range for Botox treatment of hyperhidrosis is typically $500 to $1,000 and the treatment lasts three to six months.

Do-it-yourselfers can try drinking tea with one teaspoon of dried sage four times a day as well as adding 30mg of zinc to one's daily diet.

Bikini bumps

Bikini bumps are often caused by shaving, so getting rid of bumps starts with changing one's shaving routine. Shaving cream may seem old-fashioned but using generous amounts makes removing coarse pubic hair easier, meaning it is less likely that you'll get bumps at all. As you shave, pull skin taut and shave in upward strokes. And, most importantly, apply a post-shave product to avoid ingrown hair and rashes.

Ladies who wax should also be religious about using some kind of bikini-zone product, especially as hair begins to come back. I recommend MiN New York Solution2 Post Shave Treatment. It's $20 at Amazon.com.